In this 2nd book in the 'Jade de Jong' series, the South African private investigator/security expert goes up against a powerful criminal enterprise. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
As the book opens, English police are raiding a London brothel. During the bust, the prostitutes - who turn out to be victims of sex trafficking - are rescued and one of the brothel owners is arrested.
However a mysterious older woman rushes out, viciously attacks the cops, and escapes with a companion.
The authorities learn that the victimized women were trafficked from South Africa and the two brothel owners, both savage thugs, hail from Bosnia. One of the brothel owners was out of the country on the day of the raid, and escaped arrest.
It's obvious that there's an international element to the criminal enterprise, and the exploited women are being transported long distances.
The British police realize that major players in the sex peddling ring are in South Africa, and others may be making their way there. So the London authorities contact their counterparts in Johannesburg, and ask them to be on the lookout.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, private detective/bodyguard Jade de Jong is hired by wealthy, elegant Pamela Jordaan.
Pamela's husband Terence - a strip club entrepreneur - is missing, and Pamela fears for her own safety. Knowing Jade's reputation for toughness, Pamela employs her for protection.
Jade thinks Pamela is being paranoid, and figures this will be an easy gig for big bucks. The private detective is soon disabused of this notion, however, when someone tries to shoot Pamela. Moreover, Pamela's daughter Tamsin - a manager in her dad's strip club - goes missing as well.
Subsequent events show that sinister and sadistic hands are at work. In addition, the trafficking enterprise involves abducting, brutalizing, and exploiting innocent girls. Much of this is gruesomely graphic, so consider yourself warned.
Jade's ex-boyfriend, Police Superintendent David Patel, is working on the sex-trafficking case for his London compatriots.
Jade soon realizes that her security job and David's investigation are connected, and the former lovers help each other in an atmosphere of sexual tension.
As all this is going on, the POV periodically shifts to dangerous criminals in South Africa. These lawbreakers are desperate to get out of the country, and will do anything to line up the necessary (forged) South African passports.
Unfortunately for the felons, Johannesburg has just cracked down on illegal passports, which were once easily obtained for a bribe. So the bad guys resort to devious cruel measures.
To add to the activity, the British cops make discoveries that lead them to Cypress, and we see some action there as well.
The story seems to head in numerous directions, but the threads come together in the end.
If the author is basing her book on reality, it seems like South Africa is a very dangerous place to live; there's major corruption in government departments; and sex trafficking is rampant. Not a pretty picture.
The book is a compelling - but somewhat over-complicated - thriller in an interesting setting.
Rating: 3 stars
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